why is it to young for timeouts

My son 15 months has been getting time outs since he was about 10 months. Why is that bad? He knows what time out is. If he's doing something he's not suppose to we say Cameron do you want a time out? And in most cases he will stop what he's doing. If he continues he gets a one min time out. Why is that so bad?

My son 15 months has been getting time outs since he was about 10 months. Why is that bad? He knows what time out is. If he's doing something he's not suppose to we say Cameron do you want a time out? And in most cases he will stop what he's doing. If he continues he gets a one min time out. Why is that so bad?

It not BAD. My pediatrician specially told us at the 12 mo and the 15mo check up that she is too young to understand what a time out is, and that discipline is hard at this age due to their brain development and what they are able to understand. If it works for you, great. I was told it wouldn't work at this age so I haven't tried it. And I can tell with my particular baby that it would be pointless. My pedi said to just use mean mommy voice and at worst, a pat on the hand. She knows when I mean business without time out but whatever works!

It not BAD. My pediatrician specially told us at the 12 mo and the 15mo check up that she is too young to understand what a time out is, and that discipline is hard at this age due to their brain development and what they are able to understand. If it works for you, great. I was told it wouldn't work at this age so I haven't tried it. And I can tell with my particular baby that it would be pointless. My pedi said to just use mean mommy voice and at worst, a pat on the hand. She knows when I mean business without time out but whatever works!

I don't think it is bad, wish I could use it with my daughter but I don't think shes ready :) There's no way I would get her to stay in one spot for a min i.e, a corner or time out chair and like a previous poster said I wouldn't want her to associate her high chair or play pin as "bad" thing.

I don't think it is bad, wish I could use it with my daughter but I don't think shes ready :) There's no way I would get her to stay in one spot for a min i.e, a corner or time out chair and like a previous poster said I wouldn't want her to associate her high chair or play pin as "bad" thing.

I haven't had to use any withy son. I say "no thank you", "no touching, it's dangerous" or "it's only for looking". I then distract and or praise for listening. This seems p work well. He even knows what things he can't touch like the fireplace grate (he cant get hurt even if he does- its for practice) or trinkets at grandma's house. Maybe I'm just really lucky so far.

I haven't had to use any withy son. I say "no thank you", "no touching, it's dangerous" or "it's only for looking". I then distract and or praise for listening. This seems p work well. He even knows what things he can't touch like the fireplace grate (he cant get hurt even if he does- its for practice) or trinkets at grandma's house. Maybe I'm just really lucky so far.

Since 10 months, really? That seems like a bit much to me. What could your LO be doing at this age that warrants a time out? I think at this age they're still just exploring and time out seems really harsh to me, but that's just my opinion. Redirection seems like the best option to me, but what do I know...I'm just a FTM.

Since 10 months, really? That seems like a bit much to me. What could your LO be doing at this age that warrants a time out? I think at this age they're still just exploring and time out seems really harsh to me, but that's just my opinion. Redirection seems like the best option to me, but what do I know...I'm just a FTM.

I'm with indymomma here. I think redirection and positive reinforcement works better than punishment for the most part and reserve timeout for something big. Yeah, at this age I don't think the child know what timeout is or would understand the cause and effect of that method. With my older dd, it worked in the beginning (even tho it was seldom used) but she then turned it into a game where she'll do something bad and then give herself timeout which obviously means its not working. Anyways she was 3 when she did that and since then no more timeouts for us

I'm with indymomma here. I think redirection and positive reinforcement works better than punishment for the most part and reserve timeout for something big. Yeah, at this age I don't think the child know what timeout is or would understand the cause and effect of that method. With my older dd, it worked in the beginning (even tho it was seldom used) but she then turned it into a game where she'll do something bad and then give herself timeout which obviously means its not working. Anyways she was 3 when she did that and since then no more timeouts for us

I don't think it's too early. Like everything else that involves babies and toddlers, each one is different and learns at a different pace. My son understands what I am saying just about all the time. I have used timeout a few times. Just started about a week ago. It's nice that some people's children listen to them or are not as curious or determined to touch everything they see; mine is not. :) He's very curious, which is a good thing, but also is exhausting. Anyway, I have given timeout for pulling on an electrical cord. He knows he's not supposed to do it. And usually he will look at me before he does it, like - what's she going to do. We have tried to make our house kid friendly so we don't have to say no so much, but there are just some things we can't work around. We also try to redirect. So the cord thing, and then when he doesn't like if I tell him no, sometimes he will hit me. If I say no hitting and put him down, he will come back over just to hit me again. He has a temper.

Kashley, I just sit him on our fireplace hearth. The first time I did it I just put him down and said "you're in timeout." He got up because he didn't understand, but I just put him back down and said it again. He understood and sat there. I was shocked. But it worked. THen he just sits there for a minute until I go get him and tell him why he was in timeout (again). He completely understands. He gives me a kiss immediately - he's sorry. And like pp said, I will give him a warning once when he's doing something he's not supposed to. Most times, he will stop the behavior. And sometimes, he will put himself in timeout. I don't know if that's a bad thing. I mean, he removes HIMSELF from the situation. I tell him he doesn't have to sit there and he usually gets up. Anyway, long story longer, I think he understands and I think it's better than hitting him on the hand. Maybe some kids wouldn't understand at this age, but mine does.

I don't think it's too early. Like everything else that involves babies and toddlers, each one is different and learns at a different pace. My son understands what I am saying just about all the time. I have used timeout a few times. Just started about a week ago. It's nice that some people's children listen to them or are not as curious or determined to touch everything they see; mine is not. :) He's very curious, which is a good thing, but also is exhausting. Anyway, I have given timeout for pulling on an electrical cord. He knows he's not supposed to do it. And usually he will look at me before he does it, like - what's she going to do. We have tried to make our house kid friendly so we don't have to say no so much, but there are just some things we can't work around. We also try to redirect. So the cord thing, and then when he doesn't like if I tell him no, sometimes he will hit me. If I say no hitting and put him down, he will come back over just to hit me again. He has a temper.

Kashley, I just sit him on our fireplace hearth. The first time I did it I just put him down and said "you're in timeout." He got up because he didn't understand, but I just put him back down and said it again. He understood and sat there. I was shocked. But it worked. THen he just sits there for a minute until I go get him and tell him why he was in timeout (again). He completely understands. He gives me a kiss immediately - he's sorry. And like pp said, I will give him a warning once when he's doing something he's not supposed to. Most times, he will stop the behavior. And sometimes, he will put himself in timeout. I don't know if that's a bad thing. I mean, he removes HIMSELF from the situation. I tell him he doesn't have to sit there and he usually gets up. Anyway, long story longer, I think he understands and I think it's better than hitting him on the hand. Maybe some kids wouldn't understand at this age, but mine does.

I don't think time out is a bad thing, and I don't think most professionals consider it bad either. It's not advised for discipline at young ages because the child can't understand why he or she is being placed in time out. I think I've read they reach that understanding level around age 2? Part of the point of time out is that you're supposed to be able to talk to the child after time out is over about what they did ("do you know why I put you in time out?") and many of our LOs just can't comprehend that. I agree that 10 months seems early for time out, what could your 10 month old do that requires discipline? My LO, now 16 months, definitely knows there are certain things she's not supposed to do but we don't discipline yet, we remove her from whatever she's getting into and redirect her somewhere else, which seems like discipline to her sometimes :)

I don't think time out is a bad thing, and I don't think most professionals consider it bad either. It's not advised for discipline at young ages because the child can't understand why he or she is being placed in time out. I think I've read they reach that understanding level around age 2? Part of the point of time out is that you're supposed to be able to talk to the child after time out is over about what they did ("do you know why I put you in time out?") and many of our LOs just can't comprehend that. I agree that 10 months seems early for time out, what could your 10 month old do that requires discipline? My LO, now 16 months, definitely knows there are certain things she's not supposed to do but we don't discipline yet, we remove her from whatever she's getting into and redirect her somewhere else, which seems like discipline to her sometimes :)

I'm really not trying to be snide. Really. But it seems funny or ironic to me that timeout is too harsh. I've always thought that timeout is considered the wimpy form of discipline by some parents (as compared to spanking). If we're calling timeout too harsh, I really hope no one brings up spanking on our board!

I'm really not trying to be snide. Really. But it seems funny or ironic to me that timeout is too harsh. I've always thought that timeout is considered the wimpy form of discipline by some parents (as compared to spanking). If we're calling timeout too harsh, I really hope no one brings up spanking on our board!

Also, I feel like you asked for opinions and are now getting your panties in a twist because people don't agree with you parenting style. You have to decide what you want to do and stick with it. If that's time out then so be it. However, you seem to be defensive because others, including myself, have differing views.

Also, I feel like you asked for opinions and are now getting your panties in a twist because people don't agree with you parenting style. You have to decide what you want to do and stick with it. If that's time out then so be it. However, you seem to be defensive because others, including myself, have differing views.

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